Did you know she’s grown so much and has even more hair (though it’s light)? Did you know she’s a Mimi and Daddy’s girl? Did you know that she’ll eat banana’s, but they’re no longer her favorites? Did you know that her new favorite food is blueberries? And tomatoes (she eats them like apples)? Did you know that sometimes she calls her Gramps “DaDa” only because she can’t say Gramps (although she recognizes the name when someone else says it) and it frustrates her? Did you know that she calls even kids older than her her “babies” and wants to play with them? Did you know that she loves to sing and dance? Did you know that while she’ll eat pizza rolls, tomatoes, fruit, french fries, alfredo pasta, and spaghetti, she won’t eat much else (unless it’s once in a while)?

Did you know she can say most of the ABC’s when prompted? Did you know she can say: key, Mama, Dadda, Mimi, Bubba (her uncle), no, get, shoe, juice, bye, night, “b” (for blankie”, baby, dog, ow, hi, book, read, rock, happy, out?

Did you know that she knows cows say “moo,” ducks say “ack,” cats say “meow,” and dogs say “arf!”?

Did you know that she can climb? Did you know that she likes to “read” to herself and likes to play alone, too? Did you know that she’s watching you, noting everything you do? – That she now will carry a silver mixing bowl around and pretend to throw up because mommy was so sick? Or, that she stomps her foot at the dogs, pointing her finger and saying “No! Get!” Or, that her face scrunches up when she sees you crying? Or, that she knows WHAT the potty is for (including hers) but just hasn’t gotten all of the logistics down quite yet?

Did you know that some of her favorite activities don’t include name brand toys or toddler gear, but instead include brooms, mops, and anything else that reflects “grown up” life? Did you know that she will pick up trash and put it in the garbage can on her own (and if you ask her to)? Did you know that the things we think of as chores, she enjoys because it makes her feel “big” and “special” and “important”?

Did you know she can take a shower and knows how to wash herself, brush her hair, and even pretends to put lotion on her face and diaper creme on her bottom (even when her pants are on)? Did you know she knows her “major” body parts and can point to them when you say their name? Or, that she knows her articles of clothing and tries to help put them on? Or, her love for purses, shoes, and jewelry?

Did you know how totally in love with this kid I am?

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